Rangers Purchase Contract of INF Guilder Rodriguez

The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has purchased the contract of infielder Guilder Rodriguez (#60 - pronounced WHEEL-dair) from Double-A Frisco. To make room on the 40-man roster for Rodriguez, the club has transferred right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list.

Rodriguez, 31, will be seeking his first major league action after 1095 minor league games spanning 13 seasons, the most minor league games of any current player with no big league experience. Rodriguez has been a Texas League All-Star in consecutive years and combined to bat .260 (87-335) with no homers, 21 RBI, and 40 runs scored in 90 games with Round Rock (AAA) and Frisco in 2014. He played all 4 infield positions as well as left and right field this season, and has seen action at every position except catcher in his career, including 5 appearances on the mound. He appeared in 2 of Frisco's 4 games in the 'Riders' Texas League playoff loss to Midland, going 1-for-5 with a walk.

A frequent call-up to appear for Texas during spring training the past several years, Rodriguez was acquired from Milwaukee in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft on December 11, 2008. He made his professional debut with the Brewers' Arizona League club as an 18-year-old in 2002.

Darvish was placed on the 15-day disabled list on August 13, retroactive to August 10, with right elbow inflammation. The club announced yesterday that Darvish would not pitch again for the remainder of the 2014 season. He finished the year with a 10-7 record and 3.06 ERA in 22 games/starts for Texas. At the time he was placed on the disabled list last month, Darvish led the major leagues with 11.35 strikeouts per 9 innings and ranked tied for 4th in the American League with 182 strikeouts overall.

With today's transactions, the Rangers have 31 players on the active roster for today's series finale with Seattle, as well as a full 40-man roster.